Countertop device having retention feature

ABSTRACT

A countertop device and related methods of use in food preparation for rotatably coupling a kitchen utensil to an anchored retention member. The countertop device can include a kitchen utensil having a manipulation end and a retaining end. The retention member can have a retention body defining a suction cup on a mounting surface. The retention member can be anchored to a flat surface using the suction cup. A retaining ball and socket mount can be utilized to rotatably attach the kitchen utensil to the retention member. The kitchen utensil can include a manipulation member and a mounting member capable of positioning a food item there between.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The present invention is directed to kitchen utensils. Morespecifically, the present invention is directed to a kitchen utensilincluding a countertop retention feature to assist with utilization ofthe kitchen utensil.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

A wide variety of kitchen utensils are used every day to assist withfood preparation. These can include knives for cutting or chopping,spoons for measuring and stirring, spatulas for flipping or turning,cups for measuring and a wide variety of other utensils. In someinstances, utensils can be manufactured to promote the grip and handlingof the utensil, for example, by using grip enhancing materials likerubber and the like or by providing an ergonomically beneficial shape.

In some instances, use of these kitchen utensils requires a user tomanipulate and/or position the utensil with one hand whilemanipulating/positioning a food item with the other hand. Representativeexamples can include a cheese grater or slicer or a potato peeler. Inthe case of a cheese grater or peeler, a user typically holds one end ofthe utensil and positions a second end against a countertop surface suchthat a block of cheese can be moved relative to the utensil. With apotato peeler, a user is required to hold the potato with one hand whiledirecting the peeler against that potato with the other hand. In thecase of the cheese grater or peeler, the potential exists for the secondend to slide against the countertop while with the potato peeler, thepotential exists for the user to cut or otherwise injure themselvesduring the peeling process.

As such, it would be beneficial to improve upon existing kitchenutensils by improving the ability to hold and position the utensils andremoving a user's hand from an area in which injury could occur.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

A countertop device of the present invention can comprise a kitchenutensil that is rotatably coupled to an anchored retention member. Theretention member can have a retention body defining a retention surfacefor gripping a mounting surface such as, for example, a kitchen counter,a table, a cutting board or an appliance surface. In one embodiment, theretention surface can define a suction cup while, alternatively, theretention surface can include a non-slip surface formed of a non-slipmaterial such as, for example, silicone rubber. Alternatively, theretention body can define a clamp for gripping the mounting surfacewhile in yet another embodiment, the retention body can define themounting surface, such as, for example, a cutting board. The kitchenutensil can be rotatably coupled to the retention body through thecombination of a retaining ball and socket mount. In some embodiments,the kitchen utensil can include the retaining ball and the retentionmember can include the socket mount. In other embodiments, the retainingball and socket mount can be reversed with the socket mount included onthe kitchen utensil and the retaining ball positioned on the retentionmember. In some embodiments, the kitchen utensil can include amanipulation member and a mounting member capable of positioning a fooditem there between such that the food item is anchored and rotatablypositionable with respect to the retention member.

In one aspect, an embodiment of a countertop device can comprise akitchen utensil that is rotatably coupled to an anchored retentionmember. The retention member can include a means for mounting theretention member, such as, for example, a suction cup, to a flat surfacesuch as, for example, a countertop, a table, a cutting board, anappliance surface and the like. Alternatively, the means for mountingthe retention member can include a non-slip surface formed of a non-slipmaterial such as, for example, silicone rubber. Alternatively, the meansfor mounting can comprise a clamp on the anchored retention member oralternatively, the retention member can define the flat surface, suchas, for example, a cutting board. The kitchen utensil can rotatablyengage the retention member through a means for engaging. In someembodiments, the means for engaging can comprise a retaining ball on thekitchen utensil and a socket mount on the retention member. In anotherembodiment, the means for engaging can be reversed with the socket mountbeing located on the kitchen utensil and the retaining ball beingincorporated into the retention member. In some embodiments, the kitchenutensil can comprise a manipulation member and a mounting member,wherein a food item is capable of being captured between themanipulation member and the mounting member such that the food item isrotatably positionable relative to the retention member.

In another aspect of the present invention, a method of preparing foodcan comprise anchoring a retention member to an anchoring surface with ameans for mounting. In some embodiments, the means for mounting cancomprise a suction cup. Alternatively, the means for mounting caninclude a non-slip surface formed of a non-slip material such as, forexample, silicone rubber. In other alternative embodiments, the meansfor mounting can define a clamp for gripping the anchoring surface whilein yet another embodiment, the retention body can define the anchoringsurface, such as, for example, a cutting board. The method can furthercomprise coupling a kitchen utensil to the retention member with a meansfor engaging. In some embodiments, the means for engaging can comprise aretaining ball and socket mount that allows the kitchen utensil to berotatably positioned relative to the retention member. In someembodiments, the step of coupling the kitchen utensil to the retentionmember can comprise inserting a retaining ball on the kitchen utensilinto a socket mount on the retention member. Alternatively, the step ofcoupling the kitchen utensil to the retention member can compriseplacing a socket mount on the kitchen utensil over a retaining ball onthe retention member. In some embodiments, the kitchen utensil cancomprise a manipulation member and a mounting member and the method canfurther comprise capturing a food item between the manipulation memberand the mounting member wherein attachment of the mounting member to theretention members allows the food item to be rotatably positionable withrespect to the retention member.

The above summary of the various representative embodiments of theinvention is not intended to describe each illustrated embodiment orevery implementation of the invention. Rather, the embodiments arechosen and described so that others skilled in the art can appreciateand understand the principles and practices of the invention. Thefigures in the detailed description that follow more particularlyexemplify these embodiments.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The invention can be more completely understood in consideration of thefollowing detailed description of various embodiments of the inventionin connection with the accompanying drawings, in which:

FIG. 1 is a perspective, front view of a countertop device according toa representative embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a rear view of a kitchen utensil according to a representativeembodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 3 is a front view of the kitchen utensil of FIG. 2.

FIG. 4 is a bottom view of the kitchen utensil of FIG. 2.

FIG. 5 is a top view of the kitchen utensil of FIG. 2.

FIG. 6 is a right side view of the kitchen utensil of FIG. 2.

FIG. 7 is a perspective, front view of the kitchen utensil of FIG. 2.

FIG. 8 is a front view of a retention member according to arepresentative embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 9 is a left side view of the retention member of FIG. 8.

FIG. 10 is a rear view of the retention member of FIG. 8.

FIG. 11 is a top view of the retention member of FIG. 8.

FIG. 12 is a perspective view of the retention member of FIG. 8.

FIG. 13 is a section view of the retention member of FIG. 8 taken atline 13-13 of FIG. 8.

FIG. 14 is a perspective, front view of a countertop device according toa representative embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 15 is a perspective, front view of a countertop device according toa representative embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 16 is a front view of a kitchen utensil according to arepresentative embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 17 is a side view of the kitchen utensil of FIG. 16.

FIG. 18 is a perspective, top view of the kitchen utensil of FIG. 16.

FIG. 19 is a perspective, front view of the countertop device of FIG. 15illustrating use of the countertop device.

FIG. 20 is a perspective, front view of a countertop device according toa representative embodiment of the present invention.

While the invention is amenable to various modifications and alternativeforms, specifics thereof have been shown by way of example in thedrawings and will be described in detail. It should be understood,however, that the intention is not to limit the invention to theparticular embodiments as described. On the contrary, the intention isto cover all modifications, equivalents, and alternatives falling withinthe spirit and scope of the invention as defined by the appended claims.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

A countertop device 100 of the present invention is illustrated inFIG. 1. Countertop device 100 generally comprises a kitchen utensil 102and a retention member 104 as will be described in further detail below.Generally, countertop device 100 can be fabricated of materials suitablefor contact with food and that are capable of being cleaned andsanitized through hand washing or using a conventional dishwasher.Representative materials can include, for example, metals such as, forexample, aluminum and stainless steel and polymers such as, for example,nylon and silicone.

As illustrated in FIGS. 1-7, kitchen utensil 102 can comprise a cheesegrater 110. Cheese grater 110 can comprise a utensil body 112 having agrasping end 114, a retaining end 116 and sides 118, 120. Grasping end114 can define a handle 122. As illustrated, handle 122 can include apair of handle extensions 124, 126 and a grasping surface 128. Handleextensions 124, 126 generally space the grasping surface 128 away fromthe utensil body 112 such that a handle space 130 is defined between thegrasping surface 128 and the utensil body 112. Retaining end 116generally include a retaining member 132 defined by a connecting end134, a retaining arm 136 and a retaining ball 138. Retaining ball 138has a ball diameter 139. Utensil body 112 further includes a frontsurface 140 and a rear surface 142. Front surface 140 generally definesa grating surface 144 formed with a plurality of grating slots 146.

Referring to FIGS. 8-13, retention member 104 generally comprises aretention body 150 including a mounting surface 152 and a socket mount154. As illustrated in FIGS. 8-13, retention body 150 can include anexterior surface 156 having a rounded perimeter 158. Alternatively, theexterior surface 156 can be configured to have a variety of alternativeshapes and appearances. Socket mount 154 generally defines a circularcavity 160 having an exterior circular opening 159 and an interiorcircular opening 162, wherein the external circular opening 159 and theinterior circular opening 162 are connected by an angled opening surface165. Circular cavity 160 has a cavity diameter 161 that is slightlylarger than an interior opening diameter 163 of the circular opening162, while the external circular opening 159 has an external openingdiameter 167 that is larger than both the cavity diameter 161 and theinterior opening diameter 163. Mounting surface 152 can comprise a meanfor mounting the retention body to a flat or anchoring surface. In onepreferred embodiment, the means for mounting can comprise a suction cup164 defined on the mounting surface 152. Alternatively, the mountingsurface can comprise a non-slip surface formed of a non-slip materialsuch as, for example, silicone rubber. Alternatively, the retention bodycan define a clamp for gripping the flat or anchoring surface while inyet another embodiment, the retention body can define the flat oranchoring surface, such as, for example, a cutting board.

In use, a user positions the retention member 104 such that the mountingsurface 152 is on a flat surface such as, for example, a countertop ortable. The user presses down on the retention body 150 whereby a meansfor mounting the retention body, for example, the suction cup 164 iscaused to engage and be retained against the flat surface. With theretention member 104 retainably positioned on the flat surface, the usercan utilize a means for engaging the kitchen utensil 102 and theretention member 104, for example, by directing the retaining ball 138toward the socket mount 154. The user forces the retaining ball 138 intothe interior circular opening 162 by directing the retaining ball 138through the exterior circular opening 159 and past the angled openingsurface 165. The ball diameter 139 and cavity diameter 161 areessentially equal such that the retaining ball 138 essentially pops pastthe interior circular opening 162 and into the circular cavity 160whereby the retaining ball 138 is retained within the circular cavity160. The retaining ball 138 is then free to rotate within the circularcavity 160. By grasping the handle 122, the user is able to position theutensil body 112 at an angle that is beneficial for using the cheesegrater 110. Generally, the user can grasp a block of cheese and positionthe cheese against the grating surface 144 wherein directing the cheesealong the grating surface 144 from the grasping end 114 toward theretaining end 116 results in the cheese being grated by the gratingslots 146. The grated cheese emerges from the grating slots 146 on therear surface 142, whereby the grated cheese can be collected for use.

As illustrated in FIG. 14, another representative embodiment of acountertop device 200 of the present invention can substantiallyresemble countertop device 100 but with modification to the kitchenutensil 102. For example, a kitchen utensil 202 can be substantiallyidentical to kitchen utensil 102 but with front surface 140 generallydefining a slicing surface 204 including a slicing slot 206. Kitchenutensil 202 can be similarly attached to and retained within theretention member 104 as previously described with respect to countertopdevice 100 wherein something to be sliced, such as, for example, a blockof cheese is positioned against the slicing surface 204 such thatdirecting the cheese along the slicing surface 204 from the grasping end114 toward the retaining end 116 results in the cheese being sliced bythe slicing slot 206. The sliced cheese emerges from the slicing slot206 on the rear surface 142, whereby the sliced cheese can be collectedfor use.

Referring to FIGS. 15-19, another representative embodiment of acountertop device 300 of the present invention can comprise a utensilassembly 302 and retention member 104. Utensil assembly 302 can comprisea manipulation member 304 and a mounting member 306. Manipulation member304 can comprise a manipulation body 308 having a first manipulation end310 and a second manipulation end 312. Second manipulation end 312 caninclude one or more piercing elements 314. Mounting member 306 cancomprise a mounting body 316 having a first mounting end 318 and asecond mounting end 320. First mounting end 318 can comprise a retainingball 322 that substantially resembles retaining ball 138 in both sizeand shape. Second mounting end 320 can include one or more piercingelements 324.

In use, manipulation member 304 and mounting member 306 can bepositioned with respect to a food item 326 such as, for example, apotato 328 as shown in FIG. 19 or an ear of corn or other suitable fooditem. Generally, a user grasps the manipulation body 308 and directs thepiercing elements 314 into a first end 330 of food item 326. The usercan then grasp the retaining body 316 and direct the piercing elements324 into a second end 332 of the food item 326. With the utensilassembly 302 coupled to the food item 326, the user can direct theretaining ball 322 into the circular opening 162 such that the retainingball 322 pops into and is retained within the circular cavity 160. Theuser can then grasp the manipulation body 308 and pivot and angle thefood item 326 to ease peeling as in the case with potato 328, or forexample, buttering or removing corn kernels with a knife in the case ofan ear of corn.

As illustrated in FIG. 20, another representative embodiment of acountertop device 400 of the present invention can substantiallyresemble countertop device 200 but with modification to the kitchenutensil 202 and retention member 104. For example, countertop device 400can comprise essentially a reverse version of the ball and socket mountsuch that a kitchen utensil 402 includes a retaining end 404 defining aretaining body 406. Retaining body 406 can define a socket mount 408defining a circular cavity 410 having a circular opening 412. Inaddition, countertop device 400 can further comprise a retention member414 including a mounting surface 416 and a retaining member 418 defininga retaining ball 420. The dimensions and sizing of the circular cavity410, circular opening 412 and retaining ball 420 can be similar to thosepreviously described with respect to circular cavity 160, circularopening 162 and retaining ball 138. Kitchen utensil 402 can be operablycoupled to the retention member 414 by pressing or otherwise insertingthe retaining ball 420 past the circular opening 412 and into thecircular cavity 410. In this way, the retaining ball 420 is retainedwithin the circular cavity 410 while allowing a user to rotatablyposition the kitchen utensil 402 relative to the retention member 414.

As described in the present application, various kitchen utensilsincluding cheese graters, cheese slicers and peeling devices can beincorporated into various embodiments of the invention. In addition, itwill be understood that the invention can be utilized as a holder forvarious kitchen utensils including, for example, whisks, spatulas,spoons, tongs and the like. In addition, the invention can function as aholder for recipe cards, smart phones or as a table computer stand.

Although specific examples have been illustrated and described herein,it will be appreciated by those of ordinary skill in the art that thepresent application is intended to cover adaptations or variationsthereof of the presently disclosed invention. Therefore, it will beunderstood that the scope of the present invention is defined by theattached claims and their legal equivalents.

The invention claimed is:
 1. A countertop device, comprising: a kitchenutensil having a manipulation end and a retaining end, the retaining endincluding a retaining ball; and a retention member, the retention memberhaving a retention body including a mounting surface that retainablymounts the retention member to a flat surface and wherein the retentionbody includes a socket mount defining a circular cavity, the circularcavity including an opening, said opening being defined by an externalopening connected to an interior opening with an angled opening surfacetherebetween, the circular cavity having a cavity diameter, the externalopening having an external opening diameter and the interior openinghaving an interior opening diameter, wherein the cavity diameter islarger than the interior opening diameter and the external openingdiameter is larger than the cavity diameter, and wherein the retainingball has a ball diameter essentially equal to the cavity diameter,wherein the retaining ball is inserted through the external opening andpast the angled opening surface such that the retaining ball is forcedthrough the interior opening diameter and into the circular cavity forcoupling and retaining the kitchen utensil to the retention member suchthat the kitchen utensil is rotatably positionable relative to theretention member.
 2. The countertop device of claim 1, wherein thekitchen utensil is selected from the group consisting essentially of agrater or a slicer.
 3. The countertop device of claim 1, wherein themounting surface defines a suction cup for engaging the flat surface. 4.A method for preparing food, comprising: anchoring a retention member toan anchoring surface, the retention member including a retention bodyhaving a mounting surface for engaging the anchoring surface; coupling akitchen utensil to the retention member, the kitchen utensil including aretaining ball that engages with a socket mount on the retention body,the socket mount defining a circular cavity, the circular cavityincluding an opening, said opening being defined by an external openingconnected to an interior opening with an angled opening surfacetherebetween, the circular cavity having a cavity diameter, the externalopening having an external opening diameter and the interior openinghaving an interior opening diameter, wherein the cavity diameter islarger than the interior opening diameter and the external openingdiameter is larger than the cavity diameter, and wherein the retainingball has a ball diameter essentially equal to the cavity diameter,wherein the retaining ball is inserted through the external opening andpast the angled opening surface such that the retaining ball is forcedthrough the interior opening diameter and into the circular cavity suchthat the kitchen utensil is rotatably positionable relative to theretention member.
 5. A countertop device, comprising: a kitchen utensilhaving a retaining ball, the kitchen utensil selected from a cheesegrater or a cheese slicer; and a retention member, the retention memberincluding a suction surface that retainably mounts the retention memberto a flat surface, the retention member further including a socket mountdefining a circular cavity, the circular cavity including an opening,said opening being defined by an external opening connected to aninterior opening with an angled opening surface therebetween, thecircular cavity having a cavity diameter, the external opening having anexternal opening diameter and the interior opening having an interioropening diameter, wherein the cavity diameter is larger than theinterior opening diameter and the external opening diameter is largerthan the cavity diameter, and wherein the retaining ball has a balldiameter essentially equal to the cavity diameter, wherein the retainingball is inserted through the external opening and past the angledopening surface such that the retaining ball is forced through theinterior opening diameter and into the circular cavity such that thekitchen utensil is rotatably positionable relative to the retentionmember.